Pyramid Societies in China and France in the 17 th - 18 th Centuries Reading: Smith (on France and Europe), ,
France and Qing China Worldwide depression in the 17th c caused by global cooling
Decline in central control leads to peasant rebellions, banditry, religious wars and wars with invaders China- rebels take over Beijing- Ming ruler invites Mongols to help him regain control, instead they assume power in all of China France- Religious wars- Catholics vs. Protestants ( ). Thirty Years War- ( ), Fronde (civil war)
Sovereignty in France and China: Reconstituted after Turmoil A. Semi-divine monarch- the “sun gods” Louis XIV Qianlong
Kangxi Emperor
Qianlong
Centralization of formal state government China - Civil service bureaucrats was expanded and Confucianized during the Ming period. ( ). Competitive jinshi exam largest - education system in the world. - Court eunuchs and censorate (surveillance) France - Venal Offices - Cardinal Richelieu- crushes nobles, consolidates power and creates intendants (32 district system)
Enforcing Absolutism A. Large standing army B. Intellectual Theory - French Philosophs Bodin and Bousset write about divine right of kings and the need for one ruler - In China, Confucianism and “Mandate of Heaven” divine, absolutist emperor
Display of Power – Art, Architecture, Imperial Cities